Offersøykammen

Such a lovely day!

This wonderful day I took a ride to the Nappstraum tunnel just to know how long it would take me to Napp, where I am heading tomorrow. I went up to Offersøykammen 436 m. The view here is fantastic! I found some abandoned houses and had to go look inside...there might be some urban art there by famous street artists Dolk and Pøbel. I have too keep my eyes open... Later I learned that these buildings were used as refugee camp before they were abandoned.

The road to Napp in Flakstad

Abandoned houses at Offersøy 

I am curious

On my way up - Skottinden far away

Summit 436 m

View towards Hauklandsstranda

Second attempt Skottinden

My first week at work is over! It has been raining every day but I have been twice to Leknes. I've been to the library and got myself two books, something to read on a rainy day and some chocolate from Kittys Helsekost. But today it's all clear and shiny again so I was ready for Skottinden and went straight from work. This time on the right path in full visibility! It was partly steep and airy but I loved it! Had some tea and swedish cracker on the summit of 671 m. I also did a bonus peak; Vittingstinden 369 m. When going down I saw two sheep and at first sight I thought they might be stuck but I was not sure. Then I thought, as long as they still keep chewing they are probably alright! So I continued down to my bike and went home. Today I got a call from Kjetil who had seen my note in Henningsvaer. That's also a funny story but I'm not gonna tell it here... (Two germans on vacation also called me before). I can't wait for the next call, it's so exciting trying to make new friends!

Almost there

Summit book 

You can see my island to the right

Going down

Drama in our little fishing village...

Three climbing sheep were stuck in steep terrain and had to be rescued.

Picture taken from the local paper - Lofotposten.

Two out of ten

Today I got up really late. Weather was so beautiful that in the afternoon I decided to go out. A spider had made a cobweb on my bike. That was a strong message. (Spider means that you would benefit from taking it easy. Have patience - take care of your self and your home). Anyway just a small ride, 4 km to Kraemmervika on the other side and then I went up to Nonstinden 459 m.

Looks quite insignificant...

Ballstadheia on a sunny day

One out of ten

I woke up early and I saw the sun rising on my way up. At 5.45 am I was at Stamsundheia to write in the summitbook. This was my first "10 på topp" in Vestvågøy! (That's 10 summits in my municipality and they are not so high and quite easy accessible to suit most people. It's more like a fun thing to inspire people to get out more). There was a tent up here but they were still sleeping. Even the sheep were sleeping when I passed them! Up there was a ridge that continued to other peaks so I suddenly had an uncontrollable desire to follow this airy walk by the ridge. When I came back two hours later they were awake (!) and it was two french guys wearing the same knitted hat with a norwegian flag. That looked rather funny. Anyway I spoke to them and then went down and packed my things together. I found a small shop (Joker - open on a sunday that's not common in Norway!) and they had freshly baked bread. I wanted to buy some coffee but it was free so that made me happy. Weather was great and I had a fantastic ride back home to Ballstadøya where I put up my tent for drying outside on the jetty.

The lake where I camped

Summit of Stamsundheia 370 m

"10 på Topp-kort" (10 summit card)

Looking down at Steine and Sennesvik

On the road again

Mike dropped me off in Svolvaer and I headed for Henningsvaer. It was raining. It took me two hours to go there and the café was not open yet so I just put up a note that I'm looking for climbing friends. Let's hope someone will call me soon! Then I went on to Stamsund and the weather was improving a lot, the sun came out shining and followed me all the way to my goal. I met a nice australian couple with a very special bike so I talked to them for a while and then we said goodbye because they were going the opposite direction. When I came to Stamsund, I asked a lady for Stamsundheia and she showed me where to go. I pitched my tent just by the lake below. After 82 km I was quite tired so I went to sleep early.

"Trollsteinen" (Goblin stone)

Road to Henningsvaer

The church was built 1898 and it's nice but it's the stone that's interesting. Legend tells that the Devil was so furious when the first church in Vågan was built, that he threw this stone from Kjellbergtinden and happily (or not?) he missed the church...

Short stop below "Presten" (The Priest)

Festvåg - where climbers camp

Presten is Lofoten’s most famous cliff - known throughout Norway and its reputation has travelled further afield. Its sheer nose of granite that rises 400 metres above the sea in a single, majestic sweep.

Henningsvaer

Klatrekaféen (The climbing café)

Klatrekaféen (The climbing café)

Time for a break in Festvåg 

Heading for Stamsund

Heading for the bridge 

Australian couple in Stamsund

Off they go

Another rainy day

My blender decided to retire so I had to buy a new one in Leknes, because I cannot survive without my smoothie. Today it's another wet day so we went to see Eggum which is part of Lofoten cultural landscape but it was really disappointing because there was only one sculpture called "Hodet" (The Head) if you study it from different angles you are supposed to be able to see it in 16 different ways. There is also a small radar station built by the germans during the second world war, but the most fun part was to climb up in it. We went for a hike in the rain along Heimredalsvatnet and then we went to see the waves in Unstad which is the most popular surfing eldorado in Lofoten. Here comes a hard core of local surfers and also people from outside traveling here attracted by amazing waves in a spectacular environment. Tonight we were packing and we had see-each-other-again-soon-dinner since Mike is going back to Sweden tomorrow and I'm going for a ride with my bike.

Radar station

"Hodet"

Heimredalsvatnet

Eggum

On the radar station

Unstad

The house where I live

The very same in different angle...

First attempt Skottinden

We were brave today and headed for Skottinden which almost looks like Mordor, despite the weather (winds were soon getting close to gale, rain was getting more intense and then some fog). Maybe not the best conditions but we needed to get out for some fresh air.

Smoothie sets the day

Kraemmervika

Don't stand there out in the cold...

...do come in and get warm

Kafe Tideman

Kraemmervika from above

Ballstadøya from above

Hills are lush

Nonstinden 459 m

Fresh winds

Somewhere just before we turned

Time for a steaming hot cup of tea?

Hmm...

Visibility improves as we get lower